Is Jesus Christ the unique saviour?

Comments (3)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

1. mags says:

   July 6, 2014 at 5:40 pm

   What I think for me is exclusive, is not Jesus’ beautiful Spiritual invitation to All ~ That is indeed open to All whom have the Grace and the desire to receive, and to respond to His Love.

   I agree absolutely that spiritually we can All respond to this beautiful invitation. And that through our profoundly intimate One to One relationship with Christ, we can share the ‘fruits of the Spirit’ of our Beloved relationship, in the way in which we relate to others, by sharing a profoundly-simple and beautiful loving kindness with them.

   I think when people refer to the exclusiveness and eliteness of ‘The Church’ it would be a misperception to believe that they are talking about the exclusiveness of Jesus. No. I think they are talking about ‘mans nature to be exclusive’ and not Divine nature. We sadly witness closed invitations to events, the privileged few whom are considered potentially good financial benefactors, those of social standing, dignitiries etc. (The clergy and upper 10). There also those whom have the main roles in our parishes, or whom are favoured by our clergy, who usually not only keep their roles until they die or retire, but whom are also are afforded special invitations to Ordinations etc, in gratitude for their input. The Church can be and often is exclusive. I see it with my own eyes.

   When it comes to the Catholic Churches practical spiritual invitation, it is a different invitation to that of the Spiritual Invitation open to All offered by Christ, and you capture this beautifully in your homily. Here the yoke is light.

   But the exclusiveness that i have met mirrors secular life ~ if you have money then you can travel far, afford to go on seminars, buy special tickets for special events, access formation which is otherwise unavailable, go on parish pilgrimage, parish trips, access a youth service where kids are afforded help with costs to Lourdes etc . . .

   If you are a good potential or actual benefactor, or a learned person, it is human nature that you are afforded a different respect and invitation to that of others. Vocationally we also exclude. Often as Church we are ageist, elitist, and even our sexuality causes exclusions.

   But Jesus chose a married man to give the keys to. Not a celibate. Jesus had active/contemplative vocational and family people in his inner circle, not living away in their own community elsewhere. He chose the simple and poured His Love into the space. He broke open the social norms of the day. And 2000 years later we still struggle with following His model.

   Reply
2. Janet Markham says:

   September 19, 2014 at 2:35 am

   Fr. Wang,
   I agree with everything you say in your July 6, 2014 with one exception, but it is not what I want to talk about. Because I am in parish ministry, I agree wholeheartedly that the Church is exclusive. Dinners for those who serve, special invitations to attend workshops of learning, invitations to events that only those with money are invited or able to attend, not reaching out to a parishioner or anyone else who does not serve in the parish because they are on the outskirts of the parish.

   Thank you so much, Fr. Wang, because I serve on the new “Evangelization” committee of our parish, and now I know what my agenda will be entailing in the near future. I know where I will be leading the team. Thank you again; and, to the Holy Spirit for leading me to your comments.

   Reply
   • Fr Stephen Wang says:

     September 19, 2014 at 3:01 pm

     Thanks for the comment Janet – I’m glad this was helpful.

     Reply